Ice guard



R. F'. SWING ICE-GUARD Aug. 29, 1944.

Filed ma 6, 1942 INVENTQR Raymond 117 7 B 8%? Mb OR EY Patented Aug. 29, 1944 orrlcs ICE GU RD Raymond F. Swing, Seattle, Wash. I

Application May 6, 1942, Serial: No. 441,969

1 Claim.

. This invention relates to an ice-guard, and is particularly directed to a device of this nature arranged and adapted to be applied to a drinking glass for holding ice, as well as any other solid matter suspended within the liquid of a drink, out of contact with thejlips of a person imbibing the drink.

The object of the invention is the provision of an especially simple and inexpensive device of the above character which is highly efficient in the performance of its ice-guarding function; which, for ease of cleaning, my be readily inserted in and removed from a glass; which constitutes an ornamental adjunct to a drinking glass; and which very appreciably facilitates drinking not only from the fact of keeping solid suspended matter away from the lips of the drinker but also by reason of providing a means by which the user may hold the glass in a more secure manner. As a still further object, the invention aims to provide a device constructed in a manner permitting the same to be readily applied to the glass with little or no danger of chipping or cracking the latter.

Further objects still, with the foregoing, will become apparent in the course of the following detailed description and claim, the invention consisting in the novel construction and in the adaptation and combination of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawing: v

Figure 1 is a vertical cross sectional view illustrating one embodiment of the present invention applied to a drinking glass within which is indicated a charge of cracked ice.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the ice-guard removed. i

Fig. 3 is a top plan view showing a somewhat modified design of the ice-restraining screen, a modification, more especially, which indicates the adaptability of the guard to the delineation of relatively ornate patterns where thesame may be desired; and

Fig. 4 is a horizontal section to an enlarged scale detailing the finger-receiving disk which I desirably employ and which serves the twofold end of stabilizing the ice-guard proper and of augmenting the user's hold upon the, glass.

According to the invention, there is provided a screen-forming plate indicated by the numeral 5 which is or may be produced to a circular form very closely conforming in' diameter to the inside diameter of a drinking glass, as l, to which the guard is to be applied. Any desired design characterized by the presentation of screening openings sufficiently restricted to preclude passage of cracked ice or shavings may be worked into the plate, and various materials may obviously be employed-sheet metal, any one of v numerous plastics, wire, glass, wood, or a waxed paper board being suitable for the purpose.

Supporting the screening plate and functioning to suspend the latter within the glass at a distance spaced somewhat below the rim of the latter is a holder which, desirably, is formed in the nature of a resilient clip comprised of a single strand of wire having a footing terminal 1 riveted or otherwise attached to the plate and extending therefrom as a hook 8 arranged to fit over the rim of the glass wherefrom the same extends downwardly for an appreciable distance with the free end presenting an eye-forming loop l0.

Indicated by H is a disk which is caught in said loop, the disk having its inner face H,

curved in a horizontal direction to conform to the outer perimeter of the glass and upon its outer face presenting a dished surface ll" functioning to receiv the tip of the users middle finger. It will be readily understood that the dished recess functions to steady the users grip upon the glass, and it is'believed similarly clear that the arcuate inner surface II by springpressed engagement against the exterior of the glass operates to resist lateral deflection and in consequence prevents tilting of the screen within the glass. By the instrumentality of forming the disks in contrasting colors, glasses used by various individuals may be readily identified.

In furtherance of the described clip,- it will be seen that the span between the wire legs is given a width at the bight somewhat in excess of the thickness of the drinking glass, and that the ends are convergingly disposed in order that the gripping function of the clip is exerted by such ends, thereby to protect the rim of the glass against being chipped or cracked as the clip is pressed down over the same.

The value of the guard as an advertising medium is apparent, considering the invariable custom of most individuals to look into a glass when imbibing a drink. It will be readily recognized that the screening plate lends itself most effectively to the working of words and various trade insignia into screening designs like or similar to the pattern which I illustrate on the plate 5' of Fi 3.

It will of course be understood that there is no intention of limiting the guard device to use.

upon a container for drinks which is constructed description only and perforce includes any material of which a drinking vessel may be constructed. It is also to be understood that the term ice" as employed to denote a substance which it is the oflice of my guard device to isolate from the lips of a drinker is to be construed to broadly mean any substance contained within a drink.

Numerous departures from the illustrated and described embodiments will readily suggest themselves, and I accordingly intend that no limitations be implied and that the hereto annexed claim be read with only such restrictions as are necessarily introduced thereto to distinguish the invention from such prior devices as may be deemed to show suflicient resemblance as to re- I holding ice out of contact with the lips of a drinker and comprising a screening member functional to the ice for trapping the ice while passing the liquid therethrough; an inverted-U- resilient clip supporting the screening member and arranged to hook over the rim of the glass for holding the screening member in operative position within the glass; and a stabilizing disk carried by the outer leg of said U-clip at the free end of the latter and by the spring characteristic of the clip bearing against the outside surface of the glass. the inner face of said disk being given a curvilinear configuration. considered in a horizontal direction, conforming to the curve I of the glass. 

